The launch of the Traditional Policing Concept at Bumbane Great Place in Mthatha on Friday was developed as a model for policing in traditionally led rural communities, as partners in the fight against crime.
As such, a new police service centre has been opened at the royal house, which would provide members of the rural community direct and immediate access to the police.
Eastern Cape police provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga said it was unacceptable that crime goes unreported in rural areas due to the inaccessibility of police stations.
She said the SAPS and government wanted to build capacity and strengthen partnerships in order to have a multi-disciplinary approach to address and reduce the fear of crime by jointly identifying the root causes, specifically in communities led by traditional leaders.
“Traditional policing concept is also one of the police’s endeavours to bring basic policing services closer to the community,” said Ntshinga...